for inspiration. ‘We are occupying smaller spaces and
there is a real need for multifunctionalism as we eat,
sleep and work in the same environment. “Vibes” is
a direct response to this idea of accommodating many
different scenarios with one solution.’
Working closely with La Manufacture Cogolin’s
expert weavers at its workshop outside Saint-Tropez,
Zaven proposed a design for the pillow-rug’s surface
that, at first glance, appears like a print of an audio
equaliser. In fact, the simple-looking but complex-to-
execute pattern is a large-scale digital rendering of
a ginger flower, whose soothing and refreshing powers
nodded to Handmade’s Wellness + Wonder theme.
Combining weaving and hand-knotting techniqueson a 19th-century Jacquard loom, a team of artisans
handcrafted the design over the course of ten days.
‘Usually, for us to make something of this size,
it takes two to three days on the loom,’ says
Sarah Henry, La Manufacture Cogolin’s managing
director. She notes that the project’s complexity, and
its extended timeline, came not from the cushioned
format but from the pattern, which required the
weavers to supplement their work with individual
stitches. ‘It was technically complicated to carry out,
but also an awesome challenge,’ says Henry. ‘One
of the things I love most about Zaven’s design is that
it’s both digital and organic. And it’s very modern
in its mindset, but full of heritage in its making.’
To complete the design, a fabric backing was sewn
to the weaving with a bright-blue stitch, and then the
piece was filled – like a giant pillowcase – with a made-
to-measure cushion. Though Zaven’s work often uses
a punchy palette, for this project the studio opted to
work in black and white for a more graphic effect. ‘We
also thought about the idea of the binary code, and
using less information to create the purest expression,’
says Cavarzan of the back-to-basics colour combo.
With a practice that spans industrial design,
conceptual research and material innovation, Zavagno
and Cavarzan aren’t strangers to working with textiles.
Highlights include a rug collection for CC-Tapis
launched last year, and a 2016 collaboration with Nike
at Milan Design Week that saw the duo team up with
the sports giant’s textile division, to create a lighting
installation with lampshades crafted from the brand’s
Flyknit technology.
‘For us, textiles are a bit like paper – of course,
they are softer, bigger and more organic – but
the surface allows for infinite creative possibilities.
It is very exciting, very free,’ says Cavarzan.
For their collaboration with La Manufacture
Cogolin, the duo opted to use wool (though Cogolin
also frequently works with cotton, linen, jute, silk
and raffia), eager to include the material’s warmth
and comfort in their design concept. ‘Vibes’ features
a Chinese-style button knot and a loop closure on
the upper end of the underside, allowing the volume to
be adjusted: the pillow-rug’s rectangular silhouette can
easily shift from an even surface into an undulating
form with a raised end providing a head or backrest for
optimal reclining.
‘The closure system transforms the piece: it is no
longer just a pleasant rectangular shape, now it really
envelopes and accommodates you,’ says Zavagno.
‘We set out to create a different, slightly unusual
object: the hope is that it inspires a bit of wonder and,
of course, allows occupants to come away with a sense
of wellness, however and wherever it might be used.’ ∂
zaven.net; manufacturecogolin.com‘Textiles are a bit like paper – the surface
allows for infinite creative possibilities’
LEFT, ENRICA CAVARZAN
OF DESIGN STUDIO ZAVEN
AT LA MANUFACTURE
COGOLIN’S WORKSHOPMaking Of...
056 ∑